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Mekor Hachayim Sefer Chafetz Chayim
Hilchot Esurei Lashon Hara

Kelal Heh

motivation is only to strive to seek the truth. Even though the
comments are halachically Lashon Hara, 10 still, he had no intention
to do anything bad. But that is not the case here where the speaker’s
entire motivation is to denigrate and disgrace his “victim.” This is
an especially bad character trait, as Rabbeinu Yonah comments in
Shaare Teshuvah (3rd sha’ar, section #217).11

Another (worse) aspect is from the perspective of the listener. In
other circumstances involving Lashon Hara the listener would
not quickly accept the speaker’s words as being truthful, and with
certainty the other listeners who were there would answer back
the speaker (and defend the victim): “As long as we don’t see the
circumstance with our own eyes, we will not believe you. And with
certainty, even if what you said was true, most likely there was a
(good) reason that caused the victim to behave as he did and it is
impossible to believe the apparent story you related about him.”
And if it became apparent later on that what the speaker said was a
lie, the speaker himself would be disgraced and scorned by society
because he spread outright lies about a fellow Jew. But here, in this
circumstance, if the speaker trivializes his victim and publicly calls
him a fool and a simpleton, because of those remarks the victim
will become disgraced and scorned in society. Because of the many
sins of society, this behavior is often found in society and nobody
in the listening audience will stand up and protest in defense of
this victim and say to the speaker, “Don’t talk as much as you do,
moderate your speech and have compassion for the honor of your
fellow Jew! Why must you utterly shame the victim?” And (since
no one raises any objections to the speaker’s remarks) it is as if the
speaker is innocent and did nothing wrong in making his remarks.
Regarding this speaker Shelomo HaMelech says in Mishle (30:20)
“This is the way of an adulterous woman; she “eats” and wipes
her mouth and says - I have done nothing wrong!” (Please see the
following Hagahah).

Be'er Mayim Chayim on page 265

K5/4. All that we have written applies even if the speaker merely

said the victim was not smart in worldly matters. And all the more

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volume 2